γδ T cells: Major advances in basic and clinical research in tumor immunotherapy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

γδ T cells are a kind of innate immune T cell. They have not attracted sufficient attention because they account for only a small proportion of all immune cells, and many basic factors related to these cells remain unclear. However, in recent years, with the rapid development of tumor immunotherapy, γδ T cells have attracted increasing attention because of their ability to exert cytotoxic effects on most tumor cells without major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction. An increasing number of basic studies have focused on the development, antigen recognition, activation, and antitumor immune response of γδ T cells. Additionally, γδ T cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies are being developed, and the number of clinical trials investigating such strategies is increasing. This review mainly summarizes the progress of basic research and the clinical application of γδ T cells in tumor immunotherapy to provide a theoretical basis for further the development of γδ T cell-based strategies in the future.

Effects and Mechanisms of Electroacupuncture at Zhongwan （CV12） on Gastric Nociceptive Response Induced by Gastric Acid Stimulation in Rats / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of electroacupuncture at Zhongwan （CV12） on gastric nociceptive response induced by gastric acid stimulation and explore the underlying mechanisms associated with nuclei of the medullary viscerosensory and visceral motor neurons. MethodsTwenty SD rats were given intragastric administration of 0.5 mol/L diluted hydrochloric acid （0.5 ml/100 g） to induce gastric nociceptive response induction. Eight rats were randomly selected to record the gastric slow wave （GSW） area under the curve， and extracellular discharge frequency of neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract （NTS） and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve （DMV） before intragastric administration and at 1， 5， 10， 15， 20， 25， 30， 35， 40， 45， 50， 55， and 60 minutes after intragastric administration. The remaining 12 rats received electroacupuncture intervention at Zhongwan within 5 to 25 minutes after intragastric administration of diluted hydrochloric acid， with a duration of one minute. The GSW area under the curve and extracellular discharge frequency of NTS and DMV neurons were compared between the 1-minute intervals before and after electroacupuncture intervention. ResultsCompared to the baseline before intragastric administration， the area under the curve of GSW significantly increased at 1， 5， 10， 15， 20， and 25 minutes after intragastric administration， and the extracellular discharge frequency of excitatory neurons in the NTS （accounting for 90%， 57/63） significantly increased at 1， 5， 10， 15， 20， 25， 30， 35， and 40 minutes， both reaching peak values at 1 minute after intragastric administration （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）. The extracellular discharge frequency of inhibitory neurons in the DMV （accounting for 91%， 20/22） showed a non-significant increase at 1 minute after intragastric administration （P＞0.05）， but significantly decreased at other timepoints （P＜0.05）. Compared to the baseline before electroacupuncture intervention， the GSW area under the curve and the extracellular discharge frequency of excitatory neurons in the NTS significantly decreased （P＜0.05）， while the extracellular discharge frequency of inhibitory neurons in the DMV showed no significant difference （P＞0.05）. ConclusionElectroacupuncture at Zhongwan can improve gastric nociceptive response induced by gastric acid stimulation， possibly by reducing the transmission of visceral sensation and decreasing the excitability of NTS neurons in the medulla.

Expert consensus on late stage of critical care management / 中华内科杂志

We wished to establish an expert consensus on late stage of critical care (CC) management. The panel comprised 13 experts in CC medicine. Each statement was assessed based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) principle. Then, the Delphi method was adopted by 17 experts to reassess the following 28 statements. (1) ESCAPE has evolved from a strategy of delirium management to a strategy of late stage of CC management. (2) The new version of ESCAPE is a strategy for optimizing treatment and comprehensive care of critically ill patients (CIPs) after the rescue period, including early mobilization, early rehabilitation, nutritional support, sleep management, mental assessment, cognitive-function training, emotional support, and optimizing sedation and analgesia. (3) Disease assessment to determine the starting point of early mobilization, early rehabilitation, and early enteral nutrition. (4) Early mobilization has synergistic effects upon the recovery of organ function. (5) Early functional exercise and rehabilitation are important means to promote CIP recovery, and gives them a sense of future prospects. (6) Timely start of enteral nutrition is conducive to early mobilization and early rehabilitation. (7) The spontaneous breathing test should be started as soon as possible, and a weaning plan should be selected step-by-step. (8) The waking process of CIPs should be realized in a planned and purposeful way. (9) Establishment of a sleep-wake rhythm is the key to sleep management in post-CC management. (10) The spontaneous awakening trial, spontaneous breathing trial, and sleep management should be carried out together. (11) The depth of sedation should be adjusted dynamically in the late stage of CC period. (12) Standardized sedation assessment is the premise of rational sedation. (13) Appropriate sedative drugs should be selected according to the objectives of sedation and drug characteristics. (14) A goal-directed minimization strategy for sedation should be implemented. (15) The principle of analgesia must be mastered first. (16) Subjective assessment is preferred for analgesia assessment. (17) Opioid-based analgesic strategies should be selected step-by-step according to the characteristics of different drugs. (18) There must be rational use of non-opioid analgesics and non-drug-based analgesic measures. (19) Pay attention to evaluation of the psychological status of CIPs. (20) Cognitive function in CIPs cannot be ignored. (21) Delirium management should be based on non-drug-based measures and rational use of drugs. (22) Reset treatment can be considered for severe delirium. (23) Psychological assessment should be conducted as early as possible to screen-out high-risk groups with post-traumatic stress disorder. (24) Emotional support, flexible visiting, and environment management are important components of humanistic management in the intensive care unit (ICU). (25) Emotional support from medical teams and families should be promoted through"ICU diaries"and other forms. (26) Environmental management should be carried out by enriching environmental content, limiting environmental interference, and optimizing the environmental atmosphere. (27) Reasonable promotion of flexible visitation should be done on the basis of prevention of nosocomial infection. (28) ESCAPE is an excellent project for late stage of CC management.

Correction of the pathogenic mutation in the G6PC3 gene by adenine base editing in mutant embryos / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To determine whether the adenine base editor (ABE7.10) can be used to fix harmful mutations in the human G6PC3 gene. Methods: To investigate the safety of base-edited embryos, off-target analysis by deep sequencing was used to examine the feasibility and editing efficiency of various sgRNA expression vectors. The human HEK293T mutation models and human embryos were also used to test the feasibility and editing efficiency of correction. Results: ①The G6PC3(C295T) mutant cell model was successfully created. ②In the G6PC3(C295T) mutant cell model, three distinct Re-sgRNAs were created and corrected, with base correction efficiency ranging from 8.79% to 19.56% . ③ ABE7.10 could successfully fix mutant bases in the human pathogenic embryo test; however, base editing events had also happened in other locations. ④ With the exception of one noncoding site, which had a high safety rate, deep sequencing analysis revealed that the detection of 32 probable off-target sites was <0.5% . Conclusion: This study proposes a new base correction strategy based on human pathogenic embryos; however, it also produces a certain nontarget site editing, which needs to be further analyzed on the PAM site or editor window.

Research on a portable shielding-free ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging system / 生物医学工程学杂志

The portable light-weight magnetic resonance imaging system can be deployed in special occasions such as Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and ambulances, making it possible to implement bedside monitoring imaging systems, mobile stroke units and magnetic resonance platforms in remote areas. Compared with medium and high field imaging systems, ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging equipment utilizes light-weight permanent magnets, which are compact and easy to move. However, the image quality is highly susceptible to external electromagnetic interference without a shielded room and there are still many key technical problems in hardware design to be solved. In this paper, the system hardware design and environmental electromagnetic interference elimination algorithm were studied. Consequently, some research results were obtained and a prototype of portable shielding-free 50 mT magnetic resonance imaging system was built. The light-weight magnet and its uniformity, coil system and noise elimination algorithm and human brain imaging were verified. Finally, high-quality images of the healthy human brain were obtained. The results of this study would provide reference for the development and application of ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging technology.

Research progress on Rhododendron molle in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis / 中国中药杂志

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA), as a chronic autoimmune disease, has a high incidence and disability rate, causing significant suffering to patients. Due to its complex pathogenesis, it has not been fully elucidated to date, and its treatment remains a challenging problem in the medical field. Although western medicine treatment options have certain efficacy, they require prolonged use and are expensive. Additionally, they carry risks of multiple infections and adverse reactions like malignancies. The Chinese herbal medicine Rhododendron molle is commonly used in folk medicine for its properties of dispelling wind, removing dampness, calming nerves, and alleviating pain in the treatment of diseases like rheumatic bone diseases. In recent years, modern clinical and pharmacological studies have shown that the diterpenoids in R. molle are effective components, exhibiting immune-regulatory, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. This makes it a promising candidate for treating RA with a broad range of potential applications. However, R. molle has certain toxic properties that hinder its clinical application and lead to the wastage of its resources. This study reviewed recent research progress on the mechanism of R. molle in preventing and treating RA, focusing on its chemical components, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and summarized the adverse reactions associated with R. molle, aiming to offer new ideas for finding natural remedies for RA and methods to reduce toxicity while enhancing the effectiveness of R. molle. The study seeks to clarify the safety and efficacy of R. molle and its extracts, providing a theoretical basis for its application prospects and further promoting the development and utilization of R. molle resources.

Risk factors of stroke-associated pneumonia for patients with mild to moderate acute ischemic stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

ObjectiveTo explore the risk factors of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) for patients with mild to moderate acute ischemic stroke (AIS). MethodsFrom October, 2016 to December, 2019, 321 patients with mild to moderate AIS in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were collected and divided into SAP group (n = 71) and non-SAP group (n = 250) according to whether they were complicated with SAP. Gender, age, time from symptom onset to admission, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, scores of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission, and medical history were recorded. Laboratory indexes including the count of white blood cell and platelet, levels of D-dimer, hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBDH) were measured. ResultsUnivariate analysis showed that age, NIHSS score, history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, prior cerebral infarction, the count of white blood cell and platelet, the levels of D-dimer, hs-CRP and α-HBDH were the influencing factors of SAP (P < 0.2). Multivariate Logistic regression showed that age > 70 years old (OR = 7.121, 95%CI 3.493 to 14.514, P < 0.001), NIHSS score > 4 (5 to 10, OR = 4.861, 95% CI 2.412 to 9.797, P < 0.001), the count of platelet > 300×109/L (OR = 6.978, 95% CI 1.864 to 26.128, P = 0.004), and the level of D-dimer > 1.0 mg/L (OR = 3.036, 95% CI, 1.518 to 6.071, P = 0.002) were the risk factors of SAP. The model fitted the original data well (HL = 1.509，P = 0.680) and appeared a good prediction (AUC = 0.847, 95% CI 0.796 to 0.898, P < 0.001). ConclusionAge > 70 years old, NIHSS score > 4 (5 to 10), the count of platelet > 300×109/L and the level of D-dimer > 1.0 mg/L were the risk factors of SAP for patients with mild to moderate AIS.

Metabolic profile changes of kidney aging and protective effects of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides on D-galactose-induced aging mice / 数字中医药（英文）

Objective@#To investigate the metabolic trajectory of kidney aging and the effects of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides (PSP) against kidney aging in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging mice, based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography/Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Exactive MS/MS). @*Methods@#A total of 36 C57 BL/6J mice were randomly allocated to six groups: control (CON), model (MOD), PSP low-dose (PSP-L), PSP medium-dose (PSP-M), PSP high-dose (PSP-H), and positive drug ascorbic acid (VC) groups. To create models of aging mice, D-gal was intraperitoneally administered to all other groups of mice except the CON group. After modeling, the appropriate Chinese medicine [PSP-L: 150 mg/(kg·d), PSP-M: 300 mg/(kg·d), PSP-H: 600 mg/(kg·d)] or positive drug [ascorbic acid, 300 mg/(kg·d)] was administered for intervention. Key markers of renal function in urine and serum of mice in each group, such as creatinine (Crea), urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid (UA) levels, as well as key indicators of oxidative stress in serum and kidney, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined to validate the successful establishment of kidney aging models and to estimate the effects of PSP. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE), periodic acid Schiff (PAS), and β-galactosidase staining were used to assess the renal pathological changes. The metabolic profiles of serum, kidney, and urine samples from CON, MOD, and PSP-H groups were analyzed by UPLC-Q-Exactive MS/MS, and pattern recognition methods were used to outline the metabolic trajectory of kidney aging and to identify the characteristic metabolites. @*Results@#Age-related alterations in renal histopathology and impaired renal function in mice were also associated with oxidative stress indicators. Following the injection of PSP [PSP-H: 600 mg/(kg·d)], the pathological indices associated with aging were adjusted to normal levels, renal function and oxidative stress were improved in aging mice, and renal pathological damage was markedly improved. Meanwhile, the potential biomarkers were identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive MS/MS analysis and were further analyzed to form related metabolic pathways, with P < 0.05 as a threshold. The results showed that purine, sphingolipid, glycerophospholipid, tryptophan, and riboflavin metabolisms were the main metabolic pathways associated with aging. After administration of PSP, these pathological indices returned to normal levels, and biomarkers related to the aging process, such as adenosine monophosphate (AMP), tryptophan, and 5-hydroxytryptophan, also demonstrated, to some degree, reverse regulation (promoting synthesis). @*Conclusion@#Metabolomics methods based on UPLC-Q-Exactive MS/MS and multivariate statistical analysis can be adopted to establish metabolic profiles in aging mice. PSP has been shown to protect against kidney aging by interfering with the purine, sphingolipid, glycerophospholipid, tryptophan, and riboflavin metabolisms in the kidney.

Clinical application of Ivor-Lewis procedure under uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy for esophageal cancer / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the safety and feasibility of Ivor-Lewis procedure under uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy(VATS) for esophageal cancer and Siewert type I esophago-gastric junction carcinoma.Methods:The patients with middle-lower segment esophageal cancer or Siewert type I esophago-gastric junction carcinoma received minimally invasive esophagectomy between October 2020 and June 2021, and the clinical data was collected and analyzed.Results:26 patients received Ivor-Lewis procedure underwent uniportal VATS, while 45 patients underwent McKeown surgery under multiport VATS. The average operation time of patients in the two groups were(265±110)min and (235±94)min, and the average intraoperative blood loss were(80±57)ml and(105±60)ml. The mean number of lymph nodes removed in the surgery were (19.3±2.9) and 18.6±2.7 respectively in two groups, and the mean length of hospital stay was(7.5±3.5)days and(8.3±2.7)days. The incidence of perioperative complications were not significantly different in two groups. The VAS score of patients received Ivor-Lewis procedure underwent uniportal VATS was lower than that of patients received McKeown surgery in ostoperative day 1, day 3, day 7 and 1 month. The difference was statistically significant in two groups( P<0.05). Conclusion:The Ivor-Lewis procedure under uniportal VATS for esophageal cancer and Siewert type I esophago-gastric junction carcinoma has the advantage of less postoperative pain, and the procedure is feasible in clinical practice.

Bone turnover markers, hip bone geometry parameters and metabolic syndrome in community overweight postmenopausal women / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective:To explore the changes of bone turnover markers and geometric parameters of hip bone in overweight postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome(MS), as well as the influence of MS components. To analyze the association of these factors with the risk of fracture.Methods:A total of 505 overweight postmenopausal female patients who underwent health check-up in Lianhu Community Service Center, Danyang City, Jiangsu Province from January to December 2017 were selected. According to the MS diagnostic criteria of the International Diabetes Federation(2009), the patients were divided into MS group( n=331)and non-MS group( n=174). Blood samples were collected to determine the level of procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide(P1NP)and carboxy-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type 1 collagen(CTX). Bone mineral density and hip bone geometry parameters were tested with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and hip structural analysis software. Results:The incidence of osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture in MS group was significantly higher than that in non-MS group(21.1% vs 13.8%, 4.8% vs 1. 1%, P<0.05). However, the bone mineral density of lumbar vertebra 1-4, femoral neck, and total hip in MS group was significantly higher than that in non-MS group, which remained after adjusting for age( P<0.05), but the difference disappeared after further adjustment for body mass index( P>0.05). The P1NP, CTX, femur strength index(FSI), section modulus(SM), and cross-sectional area(CSA)of MS group were significantly lower than those of non-MS group, the buckling ration(BR)was significantly higher than that in non-MS group, and the differences were still statistically significant after adjusting for age and body mass index( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in bone mineral density of lumbar vertebra 1-4, femoral neck, total hip, P1NP, and CTX between fracture group and non-fracture group in patients with MS. But FSI, SM, cross-sectional moment of inertia(CSMI), and CSA were significantly lower, BR was significantly higher( P<0.05) and femur strength decreased in patients with fracture. Regression analysis showed that high BR was an independent risk factor for fracture risk, while high FSI, SM, CSMI, and CSA were protective factors. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that wasit circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose were the main MS components affecting bone mineral density, bone turnover indexes, and hip bone geometry parameters. Conclusions:Overweight postmenopausal MS patients had decreased bone turnover rate, femoral strength, and relatively poor bone quality. Hip bone geometry parameters can be used as one of the methods to assess fracture risk in MS patients. Waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose are the important MS components affecting bone mass and bone quality.

Clinical characteristics and management strategies of late bleeding after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective:To study the clinical characteristics and management strategies of late bleeding after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD).Methods:The clinical data of 58 patients with post-pancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage (PPH) admitted to the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from March 2018 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 42 males and 16 females, aged (61.88±11.02) years old. According to the occurrence of intra-abdominal erosion factors (e.g., pancreatic fistula, biliary fistula, gastrointestinal anastomotic fistula, intra-abdominal abscess), patients were divided into the erosion group ( n=42) and non-erosion group ( n=16). All patients underwent standard lymphadenectomy. Clinical data including the PPH time-point, occurrence of rebleeding, and treatment outcomes were accessed. The management strategies of PPH in the two groups of patients were analyzed. Results:The PPH time-point in the erosion group and non-erosion patients was 8.00 (5.00, 19.25) d and 21.50 (12.75, 26.75) d, respectively ( P=0.001). PPH can occurred within one month after surgery in both erosion and non-erosion groups. In the erosion group, 31 cases (73.81%, 31/42) were treated by re-operation, two (4.76%, 2/42) by interventional radiology and nine (21.43%, 9/42) with conservative protocol, respectively. In the non-erosion group, five cases (31.25%, 5/16) were treated by re-operation, seven (43.75%, 7/16) by interventional radiology and four (25.00%, 4/16) with conservative protocol, respectively. The incidence of re-bleeding is higher in the erosion group [47.6% (20/42) vs 12.5% (2/16), P<0.05]. Clinical manifestations, sites and severity of bleeding, and treatment outcomes were also different in the erosion and non-erosion groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The occurrence of intra-abdominal erosion factors can affect the clinical characteristics and treatment strategy of late bleeding after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy. Surgery remains the treatment of choice for post-pancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage either as an urgent or last resort.

Chinese expert consensus on clinical treatment of adult patients with severe traumatic brain injury complicated by corona virus disease 2019 (version 2023) / 中华创伤杂志

The condition of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) complicated by corona virus 2019 disease (COVID-19) is complex. sTBI can significantly increase the probability of COVID-19 developing into severe or critical stage, while COVID-19 can also increase the surgical risk of sTBI and the severity of postoperative lung lesions. There are many contradictions in the treatment process, which brings difficulties to the clinical treatment of such patients. Up to now, there are few clinical studies and therapeutic norms relevant to sTBI complicated by COVID-19. In order to standardize the clinical treatment of such patients, Critical Care Medicine Branch of China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Healthcare and Editorial Board of Chinese Journal of Trauma organized relevant experts to formulate the Chinese expert consensus on clinical treatment of adult patients with severe traumatic brain injury complicated by corona virus infection 2019 ( version 2023) based on the joint prevention and control mechanism scheme of the State Council and domestic and foreign literatures on sTBI and COVID-19 in the past 3 years of the international epidemic. Fifteen recommendations focused on emergency treatment, emergency surgery and comprehensive management were put forward to provide a guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of sTBI complicated by COVID-19.

Application of single-layer with full thickness of duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy / 中华胰腺病杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of single-layer with full thickness of duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.Methods:The clinical data of 45 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy with the procedures of single-layer with full thickness in Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from Jan 2020 to Jan 2022 were retrospectively collected and compared with 45 matched patients with traditional two-layer pancreaticojejunostomy.Results:The laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy procedures were successfully performed in all the 90 cases. The mean operation time (285.6±92.4 minutes) and the media pancreaticojejunostomy time 20(15, 35) minutes) of the single-layer with full thickness pancreaticojejunostomy group were shorter than those of the two-layer pancreaticojejunostomy group [the mean operation time: 317.0±85.5 minutes, the media pancreaticojejunostomy time: 46(30, 58) minutes] with significantly statistical differences (all P value<0.05). There were no significantly statistical differences on intraoperative blood loss, the postoperative complications or hospital stay between the two groups. Conclusions:Compared with traditional pancreaticojejunostomy, the single-layer with full thickness of duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy is simple and safe, which has the advantage of easy manipulation and less time-consuming and can be recommended for laparoscopic procedures.

Alleviating experimental pulmonary hypertension via co-delivering FoxO1 stimulus and apoptosis activator to hyperproliferating pulmonary arteries

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an insidious pulmonary vasculopathy with high mortality and morbidity and its underlying pathogenesis is still poorly delineated. The hyperproliferation and apoptosis resistance of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) contributes to pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension, which is closely linked to the downregulation of fork-head box transcriptional factor O1 (FoxO1) and apoptotic protein caspase 3 (Cas-3). Here, PA-targeted co-delivery of a FoxO1 stimulus (paclitaxel, PTX) and Cas-3 was exploited to alleviate monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. The co-delivery system is prepared by loading the active protein on paclitaxel-crystal nanoparticles, followed by a glucuronic acid coating to target the glucose transporter-1 on the PASMCs. The co-loaded system (170 nm) circulates in the blood over time, accumulates in the lung, effectively targets the PAs, and profoundly regresses the remodeling of pulmonary arteries and improves hemodynamics, leading to a decrease in pulmonary arterial pressure and Fulton's index. Our mechanistic studies suggest that the targeted co-delivery system alleviates experimental pulmonary hypertension primarily via the regression of PASMC proliferation by inhibiting cell cycle progression and promoting apoptosis. Taken together, this targeted co-delivery approach offers a promising avenue to target PAs and cure the intractable vasculopathy in pulmonary hypertension.

Research progress of ionizable lipid nanoparticles for siRNA delivery / 药学学报

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is the initiator of RNA interference and inhibits gene expression by targeted degradation of specific messenger RNA. siRNA-mediated gene regulation has high efficiency and specificity and exhibits great significance in the treatment of diseases. However, the naked or unmodified siRNA has poor stability, easy to degrade by nuclease, short half-life, and low intracellular delivery. As an emerging non-viral nucleic acid delivery system, ionizable lipid nanoparticles play an important role in improving the druggability of siRNA. At present, one siRNA drug based on ionizable lipid nanoparticles has been approved for the treatment of rare disease. This review introduces the research progress in ionizable lipid nanoparticles for siRNA delivery, focusing on the effect of each component of lipid nanoparticles on the efficiency of siRNA-mediated gene silencing, which provides new references for the studies on ionizable lipid nanocarriers for siRNA delivery.

Prevalence of taeniasis and sero - prevalence of anti - cysticercus antibody among residents in Tibetan agricultural areas of Sichuan Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of taeniasis and cysticercosis among residents in Tibetan agricultural areas of Sichuan Province, so as to provide insights for the prevention and control of taeniasis and cysticercosis. Methods From 2016 to 2022, Kangding City, Daocheng County, Derong County, Ruoergai County and Muli Tibetan Autonomous County were sampled from Tibetan agricultural areas of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture and Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, and 1 to 6 townships were sampled from each county (district), followed by 4 to 7 villages sampled from each township. Primary school children were sampled using a cluster sampling method, and permanent residents at ages of over 16 years were randomly sampled from each village. Participants’ demographics, history of tapeworm excretion during the past year and clinical symptoms and signs of cysticercosis were collected through questionnaire surveys, and participants’ stool and venous blood samples were collected. Taenia eggs were detected in stool samples using the direct smear method, and deworming was performed among taeniasis patients with areca nut-squash seeds. The tapeworm species were identified using a multiplex PCR assay, and serum specific IgG antibody against cysticercus was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results A total of 5 249 respondents participated in the questionnaire survey, including 603 respondents (11.5%) with a self-reported history of proglottids secretion during the past year. A total of 3 976 residents were subjected to stool examinations, and the detection of Taenia eggs was 6.5%. Of 258 participants undergoing deworming, there were 403 cases (94.2%) with excretions of Taenia worms or proglottids. The mean prevalence of taeniasis was 10.9% (439/4 043), and there were gender-, age- and region-specific prevalence rates of taeniasis (χ2 = 36.73, 126.31 and 163.41, all P values < 0.05). Multiplex PCR assays detected 41 cases with T. solium infections (12.5%), 197 cases with T. saginata infections (59.9%) and 91 cases with T. asiatica infections (27.6%) among 329 patients undergoing deworming, and there were region-specific prevalence rates of T. solium, T. saginata and T. asiatica infections (χ2 = 45.39, P < 0.05). In addition, the sero-prevalence of anti-cysticercus IgG antibody was 7.0% (345/4 933), and there were age- and region-specific sero-prevalence rates of anti-cysticercus IgG antibody (χ2 = 13.49 and 51.76, both P values < 0.05). Conclusions Multiple Taenia species are prevalent in Tibetan agricultural areas of Sichuan Province and the sero-prevalence of anti-cysticercus antibody is high among residents. Monitoring and control of taeniasis and cysticercosis should be strengthened.

Effectiveness of comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source in Sichuan Province from 2010 to 2022 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source in Sichuan Province from 2010 to 2022, so as to provide insights into formulation of future control interventions. Methods Data pertaining to comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source and echinococcosis surveillance in Sichuan Province from 2010 to 2022 were collected. The effectiveness of comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source was evaluated with prevalence of human echinococcosis, detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis patients, prevalence of Echinococcus infection in domestic dogs, prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in livestock, prevalence of alveolar echinococcosis in small mammals and awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge, and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. Results The prevalence of human echinococcosis reduced from 1.08% in 2010 to 0.40% in 2022 in Sichuan Province (χ2 = 1 482.97, P < 0.05), with a reduction from 0.30% to 0.02% in the detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases (χ2 = 2 776.41, P < 0.05), a reduction from 15.87% to 0.46% in the prevalence of Echinococcus infection in domestic dogs (χ2 = 20 823.96, P < 0.05), a reduction from 8.05% to 1.07% in the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in livestock (χ2 = 1 296.02, P < 0.05), and the awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge increased from 50.65% to 95.24% (χ2 = 34 938.63, P < 0.05); in addition, there was a year-specific prevalence rate of alveolar echinococcosis in small mammals (χ2 = 164.07, P < 0.05). Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed that the detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases correlated positively with the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in domestic dogs (rs = 0.823, P < 0.05) and the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in livestock (rs = 0.795, P < 0.05), and correlated negatively with the awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge (rs = − 0.918, P < 0.05), and the prevalence of Echinococcus infection in domestic dogs correlated positively with the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in livestock (rs = 0.753, P < 0.05) and negatively with the awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge (rs = −0.747, P < 0.05); however, there was no correlation between the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in domestic dogs and the prevalence of alveolar echinococcosis in small mammals (rs = −0.750, P > 0.05). Conclusions The comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source had achieved remarkable effectiveness in Sichuan Province; however, the transmission chain of echinococcosis has not been interrupted. Reinforced comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source and sustained tracking evaluation of the effectiveness are recommended in Sichuan Province.

Pulmonary endothelium-targeted nanoassembly of indomethacin and superoxide dismutase relieves lung inflammation

Lung inflammation is an essential inducer of various diseases and is closely related to pulmonary-endothelium dysfunction. Herein, we propose a pulmonary endothelium-targeted codelivery system of anti-inflammatory indomethacin (IND) and antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) by assembling the biopharmaceutical SOD onto the "vector" of rod-like pure IND crystals, followed by coating with anti-ICAM-1 antibody (Ab) for targeting endothelial cells. The codelivery system has a 237 nm diameter in length and extremely high drug loading of 39% IND and 2.3% SOD. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution studies demonstrate the extended blood circulation and the strong pulmonary accumulation of the system after intravenous injection in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory murine model. Particularly, the system allows a robust capacity to target pulmonary endothelium mostly due to the rod-shape and Ab coating effect. In vitro, the preparation shows the synergistic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in LPS-activated endothelial cells. In vivo, the preparation exhibits superior pharmacodynamic efficacy revealed by significantly downregulating the inflammatory/oxidative stress markers, such as TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), in the lungs. In conclusion, the codelivery system based on rod-like pure crystals could well target the pulmonary endothelium and effectively alleviate lung inflammation. The study offers a promising approach to combat pulmonary endothelium-associated diseases.

Current research trends of nanomedicines

Owing to the inherent shortcomings of traditional therapeutic drugs in terms of inadequate therapeutic efficacy and toxicity in clinical treatment, nanomedicine designs have received widespread attention with significantly improved efficacy and reduced non-target side effects. Nanomedicines hold tremendous theranostic potential for treating, monitoring, diagnosing, and controlling various diseases and are attracting an unfathomable amount of input of research resources. Against the backdrop of an exponentially growing number of publications, it is imperative to help the audience get a panorama image of the research activities in the field of nanomedicines. Herein, this review elaborates on the development trends of nanomedicines, emerging nanocarriers, in vivo fate and safety of nanomedicines, and their extensive applications. Moreover, the potential challenges and the obstacles hindering the clinical translation of nanomedicines are also discussed. The elaboration on various aspects of the research trends of nanomedicines may help enlighten the readers and set the route for future endeavors.

Lipid carriers for mRNA delivery

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the template for protein biosynthesis and is emerging as an essential active molecule to combat various diseases, including viral infection and cancer. Especially, mRNA-based vaccines, as a new type of vaccine, have played a leading role in fighting against the current global pandemic of COVID-19. However, the inherent drawbacks, including large size, negative charge, and instability, hinder its use as a therapeutic agent. Lipid carriers are distinguishable and promising vehicles for mRNA delivery, owning the capacity to encapsulate and deliver negatively charged drugs to the targeted tissues and release cargoes at the desired time. Here, we first summarized the structure and properties of different lipid carriers, such as liposomes, liposome-like nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, exosomes and lipoprotein particles, and their applications in delivering mRNA. Then, the development of lipid-based formulations as vaccine delivery systems was discussed and highlighted. Recent advancements in the mRNA vaccine of COVID-19 were emphasized. Finally, we described our future vision and perspectives in this field.